USA & South America

USA

• Chicago, Illinios
  

South America

• Holiday to America

Europe

Republic of Ireland

• Dublin
  

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has undergone a dramatic amount of change in the last decade during what has been called “The Celtic Tiger”. In the early 90’s, visiting the city was like taking a step back in time, even more so if you ventured outside the capital! Today, Dublin is a thriving cosmopolitan city on a par with many European capitals. While not everyone agrees this is a good thing, it does affect what you should expect from the city. Having lived in Dublin for some time here are what I would consider to be the best and worst aspects of the recent change and how they would affect the experience of anyone travelling to Dublin for a trip:

The Bad

• Inflation has really taken hold and prices in Dublin rival those of London. It is still possible to find good value but Dublin is not a cheap place to visit.
• The traffic. The population is increasing rapidly and the resulting number of cars on the (pot-holed) roads has led to near gridlock at rush hours….so leave plenty of time to get to the airport
• The traditional Irish experience (“craic”) and land of 1000 welcomes is harder to find

The Good

• The craic and 1000 welcomes still exists and just has to be experienced
• The nightlife is hard to beat whether you are looking for a place to eat or a place to party ‘til the wee hours
• Dublin has not lost touch with its cultural roots and there are hundreds of tours and exhibitions to spend your daylight hours on

My top tips for a weekend break to Dublin would be:

• Shop around for a great flight deal. Most airlines flying to Dublin are really aggressive on price so wait until you find a good deal. There are no specific months to avoid travelling to Dublin. If you see a really good price just book it.
• Don’t spend all your time in the pubs. There are lots to do and see. But do make sure to try the Guinness while you are there.
• If you are staying for anymore than 3 nights get out of the city and explore the surrounding towns like Howth and Malahide to the north and Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire to the South. If you are staying any more than 4 or 5 night then hire a car and experience rural Ireland. Galway on the West cost is 3 hours away as is Waterford in the south.

I would recommend the following links if planning a trip to Dublin:

What’s on in Dublin: http://www.indublin.ie/
Travel Agency - http://travel-agents-uk.blogspot.com/
The official Dublin website http://www.dublin.ie/
Good link to get you started with the main attractions: http://www.dublintourist.com/popular_dublin/
The definitive Dublin pub crawl: http://www.dublinpubcrawl.com/
The best pay and play golf course in Dublin: http://www.portmarnock.com/golf.php

That’s it from me, have a good trip.
Ciarán

TRAVEL TIPS

We have provided some tips to help you avail of the best fares.

• Book well in advance of your travel date.
  
  
• Most discounted fares must include a Saturday night stay and travel mid week. i.e. Depart Thursday and return Monday.
  
  
• Travel during the middle of the day, or later in the day.
  
  
• Be flexible, prices vary according to availability on the day.

What criteria do ebookers use when searching for flights?

After extensive research, ebookers has found the best criteria to use when searching for flights. Our booking engine searches rigorously for the best fare while simultaneously checking for the best available routing. The result - the best fares at the best times - so you won't spend half your holiday in the airport.

LOOKING FOR IDEAS?

First of all you need to think about what type of holiday you'd like to go on. For example a family holiday in the sun, a romantic European city break, a dream honeymoon in the Far East, or perhaps an exciting safari in Kenya? The possibilities are endless, and the world is, excuse the cliché, your oyster!

For short haul trips you start by researching a few destinations which appeal to you and check out the flight availability / cost. Remember, if you try to be flexible with your travel dates and fly mid week, with a Saturday night stay, you are more likely to get cheaper air fares.

Next thing is to look into somewhere to put your head for the night, and with over 28,000 hotels worldwide through us, you won't be short of choice!

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REALLY USEFUL LINKS

ebookers Customer Service - http://www.ebookers.com/help/customer_services.html
Worldwide Maps - http://maps.google.com
Home Office - http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Worldwide Weather - http://www.weather.com
Global Visa Info - http://www.globalvisas.com

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Chicago is definitely an underrated tourist destination in the United States, at least for those who have not been. But, you want to visit Chicago at the right time! No question that the winters can be tough, but it is a pretty good time to enjoy museums, sports and restaurants but my recommended time is summer. Many cities aren't great to visit in the summer... hot weather in a city is never fun and many of the locals end up leaving the city for their own summer vacations. Chicago is different. Yes, it can be hot and humid but there are simply a lot of fun things to do in the city. Almost any week you pick will have festivals, outdoor concerts and other events going on and there will be a lot of people there, both locals and tourists. Chicagoans make up for the cold winters by really enjoying the summers!

One of the quintessential things to do when visiting Chicago, in my opinion, is to go to a Chicago Cubs baseball game. The White Sox are also fun, especially for baseball fans, but if you are new to the sport and want to enjoy "America's pastime", going to a game at Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs is the better choice. First, the stadium is located in a great neighbourhood and I definitely recommend getting there early or staying after the game to have a beer at one of the local bars. The Cubby Bear and Murphy’s are two good choices. Second, the atmosphere is simply fun... even for people like my wife who don't love baseball but really enjoy people-watching. Get bleacher seats if you can.

My second tip for visitors to Chicago is to take one of the architectural boat tours that go into the city along the Chicago River and out into Lake Michigan. Any of the boat tours are good but it is much more interesting to pay just a little more for the architectural tour. Chicago is famous for its architecture and the stories about the history of each building are very captivating. Both Wendella (http://www.wendellaboats.com/chicago.htm) and the Chicago Architectural Foundation (http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx) tours are recommended.

My third tip is that when in Chicago, you need to hear the blues. I am sure there are better places for pure blues music, but my two favorites are BLUES on Halsted and Smoke Daddy on Division. BLUES is a small place on the North Side, right across from another blues venue called Kingston Mines. I never have made it into Kingston Mines but I hear it is bigger with two stages and a little too touristy. BLUES is smaller and my experience always has been good. I suggest getting there a little early to get a seat. Smoke Daddy is great too, and also a good place for some barbecue. More of a diner-type restaurant with good music.
A lot of the typical tourist attractions are worthwhile, and some are not. Both the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum are fantastic but can be extremely crowded on weekends. Navy Pier is ok, perhaps worth a stroll or some quick dinner or to see the fireworks in the summer, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a must see. The views from the Sears Tower and the Hancock Observatory are great, but don't pay to just go to the observation deck. The better way is to go to the Signature Room at the John Hancock Building and order a drink. The drinks are expensive but you avoid the $10 price and the view is really the same. The Magnificent Mile to me is just shopping, but I am not personally a big fan of shopping! I do recommend walking to where Michigan Avenue hits the river… the views are great. Taking a run or a walk in Lincoln Park is worth it if the weather is good.

A few small travel tips… traffic to O'Hare during rush hour is terrible and you are much better taking the "L"... Chicago's subway named the "L" because it is in many cases an elevated train. You definitely don’t need a rental car in the city... taxis, public transportation and walking will be enough.
Metromix is a good site that covers things to do, restaurants, movies, sports and music. http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/

The best thing I can say about Chicago is that those who live there are more proud of their city than any other city in the United States. Even in winter. Have fun!

Alan